HOSPITAL FEES.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 June 1920, Page 5

HOSPITAL FEES.

THE NATIVE PROBLEM. DIFFICULTY IN" COLLECTION: SOME SUGGESTIONS. According to several delegates to tho Hospital Boards' Conference at Wellington, a fair proportion of patients who receive treatment in some of the country hospitals are Maoris, and in almost every instance the boards concerned complain that they have been unsuccessful in their application for the payment of the fees incurred. It was recognised that there were a number of natives who were not in a position to pay, and in order to provide for such cases the following resolution was submitted to a Nelson delegate to the conference:— "That in view of the number of indigent Maoris continually receiving treatment from hospital boards, the conference be invited to debate the advisability of recommending the introduction of legislation to tax the wealth of the native people to meet hospital charges incurred by members of their race who are unable ro pay." The chairman (Sir James Wilson', said that it was advisable when forwarding remits that boards should place something definite before the conference on which a vote could be taken. To put the remit in order the Nelson delegate moved: "That it be a recommendation to the State department to endeavor to secure legislation enabling a tax to be imposed on all transfers of native lands and deatli duties on wealthy native estates for the purpose of reimbursing hospital boards for fees and expenses in connection with necessitous natives." Speaking in support of the resolution, the delegate said that his board had •written off £SOO in fees owed by native patients. In regard to tubercular cases treated in the Nelson hospital, onethird were Maoris. It was necessary that some scheme should be devised to collect the cost of treatment of native patients, by way of death duties or by some other method. There were many native estates on which a levy might bi made. Dr. Valintine stated that he was sure the conference would agree with the remarks of the delegate from Nelson. It was a question of what machinery could be used to bring about the desired result. Mr. J. K. Hornblow (Palmerston North) said that there were Maoris who were a menace to the health of a district in which they lived. A delegate'from Taumarunui said that all transactions in native land should be taxed to a small extent. Thai, he said. would got over the present difficulty. Mr. Eraser (New Plymouth) said that the Maori landowners in his district were wealthy. They had leased their lands to Europeans at high rentals, and were in a position to meet hospital fees. A voice: If they are as rich as you say the board can sue theni. Mr. Eraser added that on account of the curious tribal customs of the natives it was extremely difficult to get at the person who was legally responsible. The only way to collect native rates was on the' co-operative principle. Some the diseases from winch natives suffered were loathsome, and nurses did not like attending to them, and on that account they should be called upon to pay higher fees. The question was referred to the Native Health Department for consideration.